Lamborghini Shares Its Carbon-Fiber Expertise for Prosthetics Research

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Automobili Lamborghini is gathering its expertise in composite materials, showcased in weight-watching supercars such as the 2018 Huracan Performante, and repurposing it for something potentially superheroic: sharing it for use in the development of better prosthetics.

A study, to be done in collaboration with Houston Methodist Research Institute, will look at biocompatibility issues in using composites for implants or for devices planted subcutaneously (under the skin), where they could be lighter and longer-lasting than existing prosthetics. The project will be conducted with Ferrari—Dr. Mauro Ferrari that is, the institute’s president and CEO. His research will join that of five other collaborating institutions in Italy.

Lamborghini is one of the leaders in carbon-fiber composite use and development, alongside Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche. Carbon-fiber composites are becoming more affordable and aren’t just the domain of supercars and racing programs anymore. They’re part of the toolkit that engineers use in their quest to trim weight where they can from efficiency-focused models such as the BMW i3 or Toyota Prius Prime.

Lamborghini’s research partnerships also extend to the U.S. It’s forging ahead with research on forged carbon-fiber composites, at a lab near Seattle and the aircraft industry’s carbon-fiber manufacturing brain trust. Not too far away, in Moses Lake, Washington, a firm produces carbon-fiber weave for body panels and other parts for both the BMW i8 and i3.